This Sunday my grandson, Grayson, will celebrate the fourth anniversary of his birth. Author Adair Lara once wrote, “Grandkids bring you into a sweeter, slower present. They show you the future at a time when a lot of your friends are thinking about the past. And they take you back to childhood–theirs, the Parent’s, your own: a three-time admittance to wonderland.” I also appreciate the expression that Grandchildren are their grandparents’ toys. That certainly is true for me.
As a parent, and now a grandparent, I have discovered that what I believed to be my role as the life teacher in both endeavors didn’t always turn out to be the case. In fact, both my children and grandchildren have taught me much about what is important in life and how to be happy. So, in honor of his fourth birthday, let me share with you what I have learned from Grayson in just these few short years…
- About time – Spending time with you has reminded me how much I have missed in my life by being engrossed as a “businessman.” The more time we spend together, the more I understand that the value of being with someone I love is so much more precious than the time I spend earning a living, as necessary as that may be. I never grow tired of the time I spend with you, yet I am often too tired after a day at work to want to travel just a few short miles to see you. So thank you, Grayson, for teaching me how much more rewarding is to be a “Big Shot” in your life as opposed to being a “Big Shot” in business.
- About the joy of learning – You are such an amazing sponge! Your mind is your playground and I am amazed every day by your zeal and openness for knowledge. You have shown me that the best cure for becoming jaded is to engross oneself in an unending and unlimited search for enlightenment as to why the world wags and what wags it. Your insatiable mind is a reminder to me that learning never exhausts, never alienates, never tortures and that we should never fear or distrust, and never dream of regretting or ending our quest for understanding. Right now, learning is one of the most important things for you, not because others desire it for you, but because you thrive on it. What a gift!
- About allowing ourselves to be loved by the people who really love us, the people who really matter and to do so by giving love – When you come to visit your Pappou and your Ya Ya, you always run to the door shaking all over in an uncontrollable jig and smiling from ear to ear. It doesn’t matter if we saw you just yesterday. As adults, far too often we spend much of our time in pursuit of people to love us, people that don’t even matter, while you seem to concentrate solely on giving love, and in doing so, you attract love like a warm hearth on a chilly night.
- About understanding that sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.
- About realizing that happiness is only real when it’s shared.
- About what people do who love you. They put their arms around you and love you even when you’re not so lovable.
- About giving freely to the world the gifts of love and to not concern yourself with how much you receive in return, because you know in your heart that it will be returned.
For all that you have given me, dear Grayson, I have the following birthday wishes for you:
I wish for you continued bodily and spiritual growth and health as you will need physical strength to bear the inevitable burdens of this world and the spiritual strength that emanates from belief in powers bigger than yourself to overcome worldly afflictions when you own strength is inadequate.
I wish for you vision beyond vision such that whatever monetary wealth and success you may acquire does not blind you to what one should truly see; that the true treasure of life is only found in loving others and being loved.
I wish for you the continued accumulation of knowledge, not for show, or boasting or to gain any sense of superiority, but enough to both know and discern the righteousness and goodness in all people and proper things.
I wish for you that you possess all of your Mother’s graces, and all of your Father’s patience.
I wish for you countless friends for it is easier for you to walk with a friend in the darkest of than to walk alone in the bright light of day.
And, finally, I wish for you the enduring confidence of knowing that in every breath you take, in every step you take, in every blink of your eye, and in every word that you utter, in every joy and in every hurt, from this day until your last and even beyond the limits of time, you are and will always be joyously loved by your Pappou and Ya Ya.
Happy Birthday!
Have an AWE-full weekend!
William J. “Bill” Bacqué